title: Phase II study of interferon-alpha and all-trans retinoic acid in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Interferon-alpha is an accepted treatment for renal cell carcinoma, with a response rate approximately 14%. Retinoic acid has been claimed to improve such a response rate when combined with interferon. We present the results of a phase II study combining interferon alpha and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Thirty-one patients who were not eligible for a trial of high-dose interleukin-2 treatment (because of low performance status: 7 patients; prior immunotherapy: 11 patients; age > 70: 8 patients, cardiac or respiratory failure: 4 patients; refusal for randomization: 1 patient) were enrolled in this study. Only one partial response was observed (3%). Despite the good tolerance observed with this association, ATRA does not improve the efficacy of interferon in this selected patient population (with poor prognosis). Such a treatment combination should not be further recommended in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Escudier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ravaud
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chevreau
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Douillard
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Dietrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012074:Remission Induction; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014212:Tretinoin